where do you get your ideas from...

That would be the most asked question ever.
Do I have a straight answer, nope.
Here is the tale of one design and how it came
to be...
"Floral Abstract"
As most people know, whether you
have children or not... the best toy is
THE BOX IT CAME IN...
When my daughter had my grandchildren,
she passed this love of boxes on by 
helping them to create grand castles
out of them. 
....and once in a while when Mimi is around
she helps decorate the outside with crazy drawings.

Original box drawing of
'Abstract Floral'
something told me I'd 
better take a picture of it.

First it became a pen and ink.
I love this version too, it's framed 
on my wall.
[prints available]

I use a pale blue Ultra Fine Sharpie
to transfer the design to 18ct canvas.

I often lay a sheet of vellum over the
drawn canvas to experiment with
what color to paint. 
This one went way wrong on the 
first try. 

And we have paint, at this point the master
of the canvas is sent to my lovely friend and
distributor Ruth Schmuff of
Bedecked and Beadazzled
She enters all the details into her database, then
sends this baby off to the painting service in California.
From there it travels overseas to the 
painters for reproduction.
This typically takes several weeks...
pre zombie apocalypse.
aka... the pandemic.
Everything will eventually 
be caught back up, in the meantime...
you have to go with the flow and
exercise patience.

...and when you do, just look at what happens!
Voila!
'Abstract Floral' Fini!
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this one 
come to life through my needle and thread.
....and wrapped wire and silk wrapped beads
and silk thread and silk ribbon,
and some sparkly thread too.
Of course, beading... there are always beads
and bullions!

This fabulous piece is on display at
Chandail Needleworks
in Houston.
I will be there in April to 
teach a workshop on 
all the beautiful stitches 
and threads I used 
to bring this piece to life.
You can call the shop or 
sign up on line.
I would love to see you there!

hmmm...

 Here I sit...

It's a Wednesday and I've already accomplished a ton 

for the week but in comparison to others...

it could look like very little.  

The floors need to be mopped... still.

I've been at one with my sketchbook

 and enjoyed every minute, 

sent out a newsletter yesterday full of information.

Maybe the hmmmm... is just normal February ick.

Package I was watching for that 

the 'informed' post said was here yesterday

was not. Truly hope it appears today.

This is what's in said package along with a fun pile 

of threads that Ruth pulled for Moi.

This is my NEXT project.

'Nouveau'

As any fiberist knows... starting a new piece is

sooooooo exciting.

This is for a June Zoom with

Bedecked and Beadazzled.

I've recently finished the 

'Menagerie'

tutorials, which have all been

loaded to one place on YouTube.

Here's the link...

Menagerie by a Kimberly design

Recent finishes!

'Abstract Floral'

this will debut in April at

Chandail Needleworks

[class sign ups are open]

'Marbles Two'
this will debut in August at

Labors of Love!

[class sign ups are open]

This is dancing through my head for

a painted canvas at some point.

Many possibilities....

'It Takes A Village'

ahhh December ...

 ... it's the most wonderful time of the year.

This is a one of a kind piece for Moi. 

I started this about eleven years ago, 

needed an evening project 

and Voila! a finish. 

I'd like to have it finished as a 3D stand up boot... 

maybe it could hold the all important 

candy canes for the hot cocoa. 

Introducing

'Menagerie'

a virtual online

stitch-a-long!

Join in anytime.

I started launching tutorials 

about a week ago to my

Instagram and Facebook feeds.

I'm aiming for each Wednesday and Friday to 

post a lesson. There will be twelve altogether.

YOU can join anytime, 

the canvas, stitch guide by Moi and thread kits 

are ready to ship. 

We 

[that being the royal we... which means Ruth Schmuff

my team mate in the needlework 

design life for maybe 30years now!!] 

has put together 35 beautiful packages for the 

'Yay! from Ruth' gang.

We've sold many but still have some available 

and more on order. 

Trying for the unheard of 

'No Waiting' 

in todays

crazy world!

Marbles Two

 debuts in

 August 2022 

at

Labors of Love Needlepoint!

[sign ups will open soon]

Next... thank goodness there is always a NEXT!!

This is called

Abstract Floral 

 and it will debut at

Chandail Needleworks

in Houston

April 2022!

Happy Holidaze 

Everyone!!

Journey...

The word 'Journey' comes up in my

conversation often.

Of late, even more.

Last weekend my friend and fellow artisan,

Marcia Morse-Mullins 

Borderweave.com

invited me over to learn a technique she

was calling 'Knotless Netting' or Looping.

She'd worked it around a rock and I was

all about learning how to do this.

I think my brain was all about 

revisiting my younger hippie.

Why NOT!

So, I showed up with two orders of

fish tacos and a bottle of our 

favorite red blend.

She instructs me to take this 

linen thread 

3x's around

this fabulous moonstone 

[my favorite rock ever]

she'd provided for me.

Then I was to take a threaded

needle over the wrap and through the 

'loop' and continue around.

This is the point where I began

laughing at myself loudly.

In my world this stitch is called

'detached buttonhole'.

And... I use to teach it from 

coast to coast in my 

tassel making classes.

Journey

Below is an example of another

way to work this crazy stitch.

I saw it, screen shot it,

and now can not find where to give credit.

But do not be surprised to see it 

pop up in a present design I've 

been a bit stumped on.

YOU just NEVER know 

what will inspire 

your next adventure

in stitching.

This woman was a driving force for me.

Sue Jennings

aka. Auntie Sue

Her journey here was an 

adventurous one for sure

and now, I'm positive 

she

 is on another.

She will always be close by 

in my heart. My deepest 

sympathies to her family.

The Nine

'The Nine'

I recently posted these on social media...

the reaction was pretty fabulous. 

So I thought they deserved a new blogspot 

about their creation.

Small pieces that are a quick stitch and 

might teach you a new technique.

That was how these started and 

morphed into a wall of art

that could be a visual trigger 

for future canvases.

Books are great, 

but I'm extremely visual.

I want to see how it looks in thread.

When I first started working on painted canvases...

I didn't always visualize how a stitch would 

work in a given space.

 

Sometimes... I still don't.

Then you are required to do a little reverse work.

rip rip rip

do over

'Tree of Life'

This piece has been very

popular. It highlights so many

different stitches. Plus the split 

background intrigues many.

You'll learn applique, 

several types of ribbon work, 

beading,

and bullions!

'Yes! I'm Special'

I taught this a couple of years ago for

Blue Bonnet Studio in Houston.

John Sinton loved popping into 

the class room announcing the name

and then loving the laughter.

Turkey work, blending silk on it's head, 

but the main focus is layers of needle

weaving topped with crystals.

And another crazy background 

with String Art.

'Movement'

This is being taught at

Blue Bonnet 2022

[still taking sign ups! tap link above]

This one features kid leather applique,

bullions with velvet, 

couched silk wrapped 

pearl purl and gimp.

'Caps 'N Curls'

This one glistens. The caps are 

stitched in layers with 

appliqued organza that is 

then overstitched for 

more depth.

'My Castle'

Where to begin, this one is

beadazzled. Basic stitches with

laid silk, over stitched for neat 

shading effects. Sequins in the 

flower garden. String art for the 

rooflines and finials.

This was the last one I stitched,

finished during the pandemic.

I'm still getting the guide together.

It will be available soon.

'Happy Little Bug'

This one is just fun. 

Loops of Turkey work with

Silk Straw!, bullions,

sequins and beading.

'Bubbles'

Cut work needle weaving plays 

across the top of this design.

Brick beading, over the shaded

water, patterned sequins for the 

body via basketweave.

Ribbon ruffles with French Knots.

'Curly Flower'

So much texture, ribbon work 

with piles of uncut turkey work in the

center. This piece features a thread that

is now extinct! So frustrating when 

companies off a magical thread.

Now... you'll learn how to wrap

floral wire to achieve the same look.

'Leaves'

Like a small sampler of stitching.

Each leaf is different.

From applique with surface

embroidery, raised stem, 

needle weaving, and some

detached buttonhole.

And always my favorite...

bullions!

Order any of the above

through my distributor at

Bedecked and Beadazzled

 

 

\

 

No Fear...

 One day during a class I was teaching,

a student said to me...

'you're just not afraid to try anything'

This statement now floats through my brain often.

I don't think I ever thought of it as a 

'no fear'

approach to designing.

I tend to go after whatever will give me

the result I have visualized in my head.

So maybe no fear but there is way more 

to it than that.

For instance...

I'm presently working on 

'Marbles Two'

My brain has been of two minds...

this piece should be similar to Marbles One

...but

How to make it different and challenge 

my students to think out of the box.

Dorset Buttons... you can search them

for cool 'how to' videos.

Cut Turkeywork...

because I couldn't find the right fluffy

thread to cheat with.

The picture above show the canvas

off the frame. You have to bend

your canvas to get the perfect angles

to trim and trim and trim and..

remember it doesn't grow back.

This is where the 'no fear'  stitching

comes to in. It's just thread, if you cut off

too much, you may have to re stitch it.

Just trim little bit by little bit to sculpt 

what I'm calling the donut.

More than having 'no fear'...

you have to be willing to put the time into

your work. I started this 'donut' 

yesterday morning about ten...

eleven hours later,

I added the last of the 'sprinkles'

to the center.

Maybe it is 'no fear' or maybe

it's knowing that I want a certain look

and..

I'm not afraid to put in the time

to achieve it.

Have a fabulous week!

xo

P. S. This design will be a class at 

Labors of Love 

in Atlanta, Georgia

August 2022!

What isn't up !?

 The end of May pretty much slid into June. 

By mid June I felt like it should be July!

Crazy life full of wonder. 

Trip to see my grandchildren, trip to 

Houston to teach my piece,

Father and Son.

The following weekend I had an art 

opening one night and Zoom classes

starting the next morning for my 

Transformation piece.

Whoosh!

Since I seem to thrive on this behavior, 

I'm not complaining.

I made a big step about a month ago 

to retire from working outside

of my home. No more part time job, 

I'm now full time ART!

My new 'boss' is very demanding!

Guide writing in the morning,

studio time in the afternoon...

both run into the evening hours!

Loving it all!

My next in person class is in November in 

Chicago with the guild there.

It’s already full! 

So exciting as I get to see my long time 

friend Libby Sturdy 

and reconnect with another friend 

from my needlepoint beginnings 

back in New England, 

Jennifer Shekaran! 

She happens to be living in 

Chicago and is great friends 

with Libby, this world just 

keeps getting smaller. 

The project is 

'Tree of Life' 

from my original 

five by five series.  

NEXT live is in Sugarland, Texas!

Blue Bonnet Studio 

is back and raring to go!

[click on the link and scroll down]

I have two pieces for you to choose from...

'Santa Up Close'

He's 8" square with lots of fun stitching, of course!

'Movement'

from my five by five series.

This one features appliqued kid leather, 

couched gimp and silk wrapped purl.

I can't say enough great things about this 

stitching retreat put on by 

MaryAlice Sinton and husband John.

They are the best and most organized.

And... they treat us like gold!

So let us get back out there

stitching together again!